A History of Sanskrit Literature c10.36

c10.36

Turning to the Brāhmaṇas, we find that those of the *Rigveda* do not mention the *Atharva-veda* at all, while the *Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa* (like the *Taittirīya Āraṇyaka*) refers to it twice. In the *Çatapatha Brāhmaṇa* it appears more frequently, occupying a more defined position, though not that of a Veda. This work very often mentions the three old Vedas alone, either explicitly as *Ṛik*, *Sāman*, *Yajus*, or as *trayī vidyā*, "the threefold knowledge." In several passages they are also mentioned along with other literary types, such as *itihāsa* (story), *purāṇa* (ancient legend) *gāthā* (song), *sūtra*, and *upaniṣhad*. In these enumerations the *Atharva-veda* regularly occupies the fourth place, coming immediately after the three Vedas, while the rest follow in varying order. The Upanishads in general treat the *Atharva-veda* in the same way; the Upanishads of the *Atharva* itself, however, sometimes tacitly add its name after the three Vedas, even without mentioning other literary types. With regard to the Çrauta or sacrificial Sūtras, we find no reference to the *Atharva* in those of Kātyāyana (*White Yajurveda*) or Lāṭyāyana (*Sāmaveda*), and only one each in those of Çāṅkhāyana and Āçvalāyana (*Rigveda*).